April 23, 2023, Degree Day at State Headquarters, 1:30 – 4:30 pm. Contact Maynard Chapman for more information at 207 312-5591.
April 26, 2023, Fifth Degree at Enterprise Grange, potluck supper at 6 pm, meeting and degree at 7:00 pm. For additional information, contact Marilyn Stinson or Ben Edgerly.
Are you feeling disconnected from National Grange news?
Gleaned from an email written by Phil Vonada, National Grange Communications Director
Each Friday morning, an email arrives – your computer dings, your phone buzzes, a notification pops up on your computer screen. The email is from the National Grange – either the Patrons Chain or the once-a-month View from the Hill. Without fail, that email has come to you for years, and then you notice… it’s not coming anymore. It’s not in your junk or spam folders, you didn’t change your email address… where is it?
Scrolling emails on your phone, it’s really easy to accidentally unsubscribe, mark the email as spam, or remove yourself from our mailing list. Unfortunately, it’s not so easy for the National Grange staff to re-subscribe you. Because of the software used to send these emails, the only way to get back on the weekly email list is to sign up again – staff are unable to do it for you.
That’s why we tried to make it simple for you to get back on our email list! Visit www.nationalgrange.org/comeback to be added back to our mailing list through Constant Contact. On the form, check “Newsletter” to start getting our weekly Patrons Chain and View from the Hill emails again. Checking “General Interest” will also subscribe you to other communications through the National Grange emails. Don’t worry, we promise not to clutter your inbox.
If you haven’t subscribed to the newsletter before, this form will still work for you!
Here’s what you can expect by signing up:
Each week includes columns from National Grange President Betsy Huber, one of our Department Directors, and information about what’s happening at the National Grange
The Legislative Department includes two columns a month – one is the “Advocacy Playbook,” which picks a specific issue and helps Grange members know how to get involved; and the last Friday of the month is the “View from the Hill,” which gives a rundown on what’s happening on Capitol Hill and how it affects Grange policy.
So, if you’re feeling a little disconnected from National Grange news and information, be sure to update your subscription to the National Grange’s newsletters!
National Grange Heirloom Program
Grange Heirlooms are snippets from the lessons of the Grange as taught in the Ritual and Declaration of Purposes. Please share “success stories” about the use of the program with us or if you come up with other innovative ways to incorporate the Program in your Granges. Information and materials are now available on the National Grange Website.
“Notes from National” is based on a monthly email received from the National Grange Communications Department.
Early figures indicate that traffic fatalities have dropped dramatically in Maine since the start of the year. Compared to this time last year, 12 people have died because of accidents compared to 32 at the same time last year.
Reprinted with permission from an e-newsletter published Maine Senate Stacey Guerin, District 4
According to Lauren Stewart, director of the Maine Bureau of Highway Safety (BHS), 2022 was one of the deadliest years on record when 177 people were killed across the state, including 20 people who were either pedestrians or bicyclists. It was the highest year since 2007 when 183 people died that year.
Stewart said last year’s figure continued a trend that began during the pandemic, especially involving those who speed or drive recklessly. The increase in Maine follows a national trend that saw half of all states experience an increase in fatalities in 2022, according to the December 2022 estimate by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Traffic deaths in the U.S. have been rising steadily since the summer of 2020.
Stewart said contributing factors in the fatal crashes in Maine continue to be unsafe and illegal speeds, reckless driving, alcohol and drug impaired driving and non-use of safety restraints, the latter of which she said was probably the greatest factor.
What can drivers do? BHS offers a few tips to avoid being in a serious crash, including:
Be courteous and cautious, and slow down;
Practice defensive driving – staying engaged means being alert;
Buckle up – being partially ejected almost always leads to serious injury or death;
Plan ahead – especially if you plan to get impaired;
Say something – If you see something, call 911. It can save a life.
TIP: Could this be the basis for a Family Health and Hearing Report?
Reprinted with permission from an Enewsletter written by UMaine Extension for Maine agriculture producers
Maine Senior FarmShare, a program that provides eligible older adults the opportunity to receive a share (worth $50) of first-quality, fresh, local produce at no cost directly from local Maine farmers during the growing season, recently received funding to serve more eligible participants and farmers. Help spread the word and find out more here.
Reprinted with permission from an email newsletter by Maine State Senator Stacey Guerin, District 4.
Spring is a great time to get out and enjoy the great State of Maine and everything that it has to offer, including Maine maple syrup.
Now in its 40th year, Maine Maple Sunday® is a long-standing tradition where Maine’s maple producers open their doors to their sweet operations for a day of educational demonstrations, Sugarbush tours, fun family activities and samplings of syrup and other great maple products.
Held every year on the fourth Sunday of March, this year’s event is set for March 26, although some sugarhouses are offering events on both Saturday and Sunday. You can view a listing of more than 100 licensed sugarhouses that represent some of the many celebrations and demonstrations happening statewide in honor of Maine’s official sweetener. The listing includes a description of each sugarhouse, what times they will be open and the activities they offer.
Mill Stream Grange members Jill Sampson (l) and Lisa Goucher .
Vernon Elementary School kids practice their sign language
Cape Cod School kids get into their new dictionaries
Front (l-r) Debbie Lavender (Treas.), Karla Arceneaux (Lect.), Laurie Cunningham (Chap.), David Varney (Stew.), Judy Dunn (Master), Ellie Andrews (pianist), Jill Sampson (Sec.), Ingrid Grenon (Gate.), Kristin Thompson (Ex. Com.) Back row (l-r) Paul Lavender (Ass’t. Stew.), Louise Kilponen (Flora), Barbara Gilman (L.A.S.), Allan Harville (Overseer), Marie Gajarski (Pom.), Lisa Goucher (Ceres), Richard Thompson (Ex. Comm.) Missing from photo: Rosemary Baker, Joe Lopez, Linda Stanton
Mill Stream Grange members Jill Sampson and Lisa Goucher presented dictionaries to the third graders at the Mt. Vernon Elementary School in January, and the Cape Cod Hill Elementary School in February. This was the first year since 2019 that an in-house presentation was allowed at the schools. It was a fun time at both schools, with very excited students and teachers. The students especially liked learning how to spell their names using the sign language pictures in the dictionary.
Easter Basket Festival – March 31, 2023 Free 4,000 Easter Egg Hunt – April 1, 2023
Jonesboro Grange #357 will host a free 4,000 Egg hunt and Easter Basket Festival in Jonesboro, Maine. The Easter Basket Festival will be March 31 from 4-7 pm and April 1 from 9 am – 5 pm at the Jonesboro Grange on Route 1, Jonesboro. The 4,000 Easter Egg Hunt is April 1 from 11 am – 1 pm located at the Jonesboro Town Office. Free photos with the Easter Bunny! Jonesboro Grange is a 501(C)8 non-profit volunteer organization.
Tickets are required for Basket Festival and can be purchased at the door. Pre-registration is not required for the Festival. The Egg Hunt is free, and donations are appreciated.
Simple social events are becoming increasingly popular. They can be based on crafts, games, book club discussions… what could your Grange host? A key to success seems to be doing it monthly–or at least on some consistent basis.
Thought for You…
“Blood is thicker than water, but maple syrup is thicker than blood. So technically, pancakes are more important than family.”
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Online Directories Available 24-7
The ODD Directory features all state officers, directors, and deputies with contact information.
The Directory of Granges features all Granges in the state with a contact person. Please make sure your listing is correct!
Do You Have FOMO?
“FOMO” is, of course, a Fear Of Missing Out. One strongly recommended treatment is to subscribe to the Maine State Grange Website. We’ll send you a daily summary whenever news and columns are posted, and we won’t share your email address with anyone!
